Tarleton State rises to No. 1 in FCS poll for first time

First team outside NDSU, SDSU, Montana State on top since 2021

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 11h1 min read

New FCS No. 1 at a school with ambitions to make the jump to an FBS conference. Via @PeteThamel on X

What happened: Tarleton State took the No. 1 spot in the FCS poll, the first top ranking in program history. The move ends a run of North Dakota State, South Dakota State and Montana State holding No. 1 since 2021.

Why it matters: The ranking puts the Texans in position for the top seed and home-field path in the FCS playoffs. It also arrives as the school pursues a future move to an FBS conference.

By the numbers: First FCS No. 1 outside NDSU, SDSU and Montana State since 2021; first No. 1 ranking in Tarleton State program history.

What to watch: Tarleton State now defends the top spot through the closing weeks of the 2026 regular season with playoff seeding at stake.

Sources

@PeteThamel 2026-10-19T21:01:17.847645+00:00

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